Refugees - have they been a problem?

[PeterG]

I'm sorry- it is not an easy language to learn. Even if many are learning it.

FWIW, I once heard somewhere that English is a relatively easy language to get started with and a difficult language to become fluent in. In other words, with some effort one can quickly pick up enough English to communicate at least a little, but attaining true mastery is very hard. I'm no linguist and can't confirm the accuracy of this assertion, but it makes sense to me.

And just to be clear, I have no issues with the language skills of immigrants to our country. In my experience they generally make every effort to learn what they can, often under difficult circumstances. I certainly don't imagine that I'd do any better if I were in their shoes.

[R7ehr]

Europe has taken in a great deal of migrants but is not currently having “the most intense period of economic growth” it has ever seen.

This is the result of a management problem, not an immigrant problem.

I agree. The more the US slides into race essentialism or ethno-state nationalism, the more we will resemble Europe and experience their troubles. Immigrants into European states can never be French, German or English, only long standing immigrant guests. By contrast there has been the possibility of immigrating to the US and truly becoming "American" and belonging here as much as the next guy because that definition is not fixed. America is an idea, not an ethnicity, at least in the past. Now ... I'm not sure, the tides against are rising but we shall see. Count me firmly in the camp of those who mourn the slide into nationalism the race essentialism.

Well put. I agree with the Europe assessment.

[ohio jones]

I'm sorry- it is not an easy language to learn. Even if many are learning it.

FWIW, I once heard somewhere that English is a relatively easy language to get started with and a difficult language to become fluent in. In other words, with some effort one can quickly pick up enough English to communicate at least a little, but attaining true mastery is very hard. I'm no linguist and can't confirm the accuracy of this assertion, but it makes sense to me.

One needs only read this forum for a few days to come to the same conclusion.

[PeterG]

*nervously scans quoted post for errors*

[Soloist]

*nervously scans quoted post for errors*

Wife: that’s what I always do when I see OJ online.

For what it’s worth, it depends on what language you are coming from. If it’s a European language, it’s fairly easy comparatively, but me being able to ask where the bathroom is or for a cup of coffee with milk, a taco, or how many children they have ect in Spanish is a lot different than actually having a useful conversation, and the other day, I really wished I knew how to say the stray dog was annoying, and I looked that up afterwards. I wanted to make sure they knew it wasn’t mine. I have also said that I eat someone light for breakfast instead of something light for breakfast. It’s also ridiculously hard to understand someone when they’re speaking quickly or when they have a heavy accent, and it has to be loud and clear with minimal background noise.

As for languages like Arabic, Russian, Chinese, or other Asian languages, it’s a cat5 in the military either direction. i’m pretty sure I have the right label for it and I’m not getting it mixed up with a hurricane, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the two are pretty similar… given my experiences with those languages, that means you basically have nothing in common and have to learn a completely different alphabet.

[PeterG]

I have also said that I eat someone light for breakfast instead of something light for breakfast.

I was once asked, "¿Cómo se llama?" ("What is your name?") and misheard it as "¿Cómo se años?" (internally translating this as, "How many years old are you?"). So I thought really hard and managed to come up with the correct way to say how many years old I was, and was called Hermano Veintiséis (Brother Twenty-Six) for the rest of the trip.

[Ernie]

It is reasonable to consider if the people groups desiring to migrate here would be open to an equal amount of migration from Christians, including proselytising and establishing churches in those countries.

Wife: Yes, and that would be a great discussion for mennonet politics. Since I can’t do anything about policies, I’m just talking about what we can do with people that are already here.

Yes, THAT is what the Bible gives us instructions about. The people who are already here.
How we treat the people who are already here is what we for sure will give account for in the day of judgment.
Our opinions about how many people should immigrate, what kind of people should immigrate, and what immigrants should do when they come to our country won't really matter, unless they are not according to the mind of Christ. Even our opinions will matter in the judgment if they influence us neglect someone Christ wants us to love.

[Soloist]

Despite all the talk about “witnessing opportunities”, the net effect of mass migration is paganism becomes entrenched into the country. Mosques and temples go up and churches close.

It is reasonable to consider if the people groups desiring to migrate here would be open to an equal amount of migration from Christians, including proselytising and establishing churches in those countries.

Truthfully I have looked at this as God bringing the mission field to us believers in the US. What will we do with it? Complain, get upset or reach out?

I find the idea odd that the exisiting population of America wasn’t already a “mission field”.

Wife: God was the one who allowed them to come over for however much time they end up spending here. Doesn’t mean we should ignore the locals, but if He sends someone else, why miss the window of opportunity? I’ve heard that said about international students as well, because they might never get the opportunity to hear about Christianity in their home country.

[Soloist]

I have also said that I eat someone light for breakfast instead of something light for breakfast.

I was once asked, "¿Cómo se llama?" ("What is your name?") and misheard it as "¿Cómo se años?" (internally translating this as, "How many years old are you?"). So I thought really hard and managed to come up with the correct way to say how many years old I was, and was called Hermano Veintiséis (Brother Twenty-Six) for the rest of the trip.

Wife: Lol. Thankfully, the only one listening to me was the google translate practice hub AI. I’ve actually recommended that to people because you don’t have to know how to spell in whatever language, and it gives you speaking and listening practice, and is adaptive. Free at the moment too

[Robert]

I have also said that I eat someone light for breakfast instead of something light for breakfast.

I was once asked, "¿Cómo se llama?" ("What is your name?") and misheard it as "¿Cómo se años?" (internally translating this as, "How many years old are you?"). So I thought really hard and managed to come up with the correct way to say how many years old I was, and was called Hermano Veintiséis (Brother Twenty-Six) for the rest of the trip.

Wife: Lol. Thankfully, the only one listening to me was the google translate practice hub AI. I’ve actually recommended that to people because you don’t have to know how to spell in whatever language, and it gives you speaking and listening practice, and is adaptive. Free at the moment too

I love this guy. NO!!